Medicolegal challenges in the COVID era

Abstract

Unprecedented times created by the COVID-19 pandemic have challenged medicolegal limits to unimaginable levels. The traditional Hippocratic Oath, provision of medical care, informed consent, and research ethics have all been put to the immense test. Concepts on medical negligence, malpractice, and standards of care are all being redefined in this era, based on epidemiological concerns and priorities. Basic concepts in public health ethics, bioethics, human rights, and epidemiology need to be adapted and restructured to these times. Medical negligence laws would be viewed through the lens of the epidemic diseases act in COVID times. We examine the challenging scenarios wherein ethical, moral, and medicolegal rights have been stretched in these pandemic times. We also aim to examine the vulnerable clinical and research scenarios during pandemic times, with an intent to offer the most ethically, morally, and legally appropriate solutions.

Keywords

• bioethics
• covid times
• informed consent
• medicolegal
• patient rights